AI-assembled from public SEC filings
Big-tech megacap platforms peer review
Descriptive comparison assembled from public SEC filings and verified companyfacts.
This feature-specific review is assembled from a frozen evidence pack of public SEC filing quotes and verified SEC companyfacts numbers. It is descriptive only and makes no judgment about which company is better. It is not a rating, recommendation, endorsement, forecast, or investment advice. Figures are as of their cited filing dates.
Methodology
The cluster is defined by size and technology/internet-platform role, not by a single SEC SIC: AAPL is hardware/services, MSFT is software and cloud, GOOGL and META are advertising/platform businesses with cloud or metaverse segments, and AMZN combines e-commerce/logistics with AWS. Comparisons are descriptive across structurally different models. Narrative cells require company-specific grounding and may quarantine heavily. The review publishes no proprietary index-membership labels.
Verified Quantitative Matrix
Numbers are templated from frozen SEC companyfacts-derived facts already verified by grepcent. Fiscal periods and filing dates are shown in each cell; code-computed comparisons below only use calendar-aligned periods.
| Metric | AAPL | MSFT | GOOGL | AMZN | META |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 416,161,000,000 source · NUM_AAPL_REVENUE_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 281,724,000,000 source · NUM_MSFT_REVENUE_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 402,836,000,000 source · NUM_GOOGL_REVENUE_FY2025 | 716,924,000,000 source · NUM_AMZN_REVENUE_FY2025 | 200,966,000,000 source · NUM_META_REVENUE_FY2025 |
| Gross margin | 46.91% source · NUM_AAPL_GROSS_MARGIN_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 68.82% source · NUM_MSFT_GROSS_MARGIN_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 59.65% source · NUM_GOOGL_GROSS_MARGIN_FY2025 | 50.29% source · NUM_AMZN_GROSS_MARGIN_FY2025 | 82.00% source · NUM_META_GROSS_MARGIN_FY2025 |
| Operating margin | 31.97% source · NUM_AAPL_OPERATING_MARGIN_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 45.62% source · NUM_MSFT_OPERATING_MARGIN_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 32.03% source · NUM_GOOGL_OPERATING_MARGIN_FY2025 | 11.16% source · NUM_AMZN_OPERATING_MARGIN_FY2025 | 41.44% source · NUM_META_OPERATING_MARGIN_FY2025 |
| Net margin | 26.92% source · NUM_AAPL_NET_MARGIN_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 36.15% source · NUM_MSFT_NET_MARGIN_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 32.81% source · NUM_GOOGL_NET_MARGIN_FY2025 | 10.83% source · NUM_AMZN_NET_MARGIN_FY2025 | 30.08% source · NUM_META_NET_MARGIN_FY2025 |
| R&D expense | 34,550,000,000 source · NUM_AAPL_RESEARCH_AND_DEVELOPMENT_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 32,488,000,000 source · NUM_MSFT_RESEARCH_AND_DEVELOPMENT_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 61,087,000,000 source · NUM_GOOGL_RESEARCH_AND_DEVELOPMENT_FY2025 | Not available. | 57,372,000,000 source · NUM_META_RESEARCH_AND_DEVELOPMENT_FY2025 |
| R&D / revenue | 8.30% source · NUM_AAPL_R_AND_D_INTENSITY_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 11.53% source · NUM_MSFT_R_AND_D_INTENSITY_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 15.16% source · NUM_GOOGL_R_AND_D_INTENSITY_FY2025 | Not available. | 28.55% source · NUM_META_R_AND_D_INTENSITY_FY2025 |
| Capital expenditures | 12,715,000,000 source · NUM_AAPL_CAPEX_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 64,551,000,000 source · NUM_MSFT_CAPEX_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 91,447,000,000 source · NUM_GOOGL_CAPEX_FY2025 | 131,819,000,000 source · NUM_AMZN_CAPEX_FY2025 | 69,691,000,000 source · NUM_META_CAPEX_FY2025 |
| Capex / revenue | 3.06% source · NUM_AAPL_CAPEX_INTENSITY_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 22.91% source · NUM_MSFT_CAPEX_INTENSITY_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 22.70% source · NUM_GOOGL_CAPEX_INTENSITY_FY2025 | 18.39% source · NUM_AMZN_CAPEX_INTENSITY_FY2025 | 34.68% source · NUM_META_CAPEX_INTENSITY_FY2025 |
| Free cash flow | 98,767,000,000 source · NUM_AAPL_FREE_CASH_FLOW_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 71,611,000,000 source · NUM_MSFT_FREE_CASH_FLOW_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 73,266,000,000 source · NUM_GOOGL_FREE_CASH_FLOW_FY2025 | 7,695,000,000 source · NUM_AMZN_FREE_CASH_FLOW_FY2025 | 46,109,000,000 source · NUM_META_FREE_CASH_FLOW_FY2025 |
| FCF / revenue | 23.73% source · NUM_AAPL_FCF_MARGIN_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 25.42% source · NUM_MSFT_FCF_MARGIN_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 18.19% source · NUM_GOOGL_FCF_MARGIN_FY2025 | 1.07% source · NUM_AMZN_FCF_MARGIN_FY2025 | 22.94% source · NUM_META_FCF_MARGIN_FY2025 |
| Stock-based compensation | 12,863,000,000 source · NUM_AAPL_STOCK_BASED_COMPENSATION_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 11,974,000,000 source · NUM_MSFT_STOCK_BASED_COMPENSATION_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 24,953,000,000 source · NUM_GOOGL_STOCK_BASED_COMPENSATION_FY2025 | 19,467,000,000 source · NUM_AMZN_STOCK_BASED_COMPENSATION_FY2025 | 20,427,000,000 source · NUM_META_STOCK_BASED_COMPENSATION_FY2025 |
| SBC / revenue | 3.09% source · NUM_AAPL_SBC_INTENSITY_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 4.25% source · NUM_MSFT_SBC_INTENSITY_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 6.19% source · NUM_GOOGL_SBC_INTENSITY_FY2025 | 2.72% source · NUM_AMZN_SBC_INTENSITY_FY2025 | 10.16% source · NUM_META_SBC_INTENSITY_FY2025 |
| Share buybacks | 90,711,000,000 source · NUM_AAPL_SHARE_BUYBACKS_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 18,420,000,000 source · NUM_MSFT_SHARE_BUYBACKS_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 45,709,000,000 source · NUM_GOOGL_SHARE_BUYBACKS_FY2025 | 0.00 source · NUM_AMZN_SHARE_BUYBACKS_FY2024 Non-aligned period: 2024-Q4; row majority 2025-Q4. | 26,248,000,000 source · NUM_META_SHARE_BUYBACKS_FY2025 |
| Liabilities / equity leverage | 3.87 source · NUM_AAPL_LIABILITIES_TO_EQUITY_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 0.80 source · NUM_MSFT_LIABILITIES_TO_EQUITY_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 0.43 source · NUM_GOOGL_LIABILITIES_TO_EQUITY_FY2025 | 0.99 source · NUM_AMZN_LIABILITIES_TO_EQUITY_FY2025 | 0.68 source · NUM_META_LIABILITIES_TO_EQUITY_FY2025 |
| Cash and equivalents | 35,934,000,000 source · NUM_AAPL_CASH_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q3; row majority 2025-Q4. | 30,242,000,000 source · NUM_MSFT_CASH_FY2025 Non-aligned period: 2025-Q2; row majority 2025-Q4. | 30,708,000,000 source · NUM_GOOGL_CASH_FY2025 | 86,810,000,000 source · NUM_AMZN_CASH_FY2025 | 35,873,000,000 source · NUM_META_CASH_FY2025 |
Code-computed comparisons
- grepcent-computed capex intensity range: range endpoints are AMZN (18.39%) and META (34.68%).
- grepcent-computed FCF margin range: range endpoints are AMZN (1.07%) and META (22.94%).
Narrative Matrix
| Dimension | AAPL | MSFT | GOOGL | AMZN | META |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Business model | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | In its latest annual MD&A, GOOGL describes this business model item. [FACT:Q_GOOGL_BUSINESS_MODEL_1] We report Google in two segments, Google Services and Google Cloud, and all non-Google businesses collectively as Other Bets. company page · source filing · fact Q_GOOGL_BUSINESS_MODEL_1 · filed 2026-02-05 | In its latest annual MD&A, AMZN describes this business model item. [FACT:Q_AMZN_BUSINESS_MODEL_1] Service sales primarily represent third-party seller fees, which includes commissions and any related fulfillment and shipping fees, AWS sales, advertising services, Amazon Prime membership fees, and certain digital media content subscriptions. company page · source filing · fact Q_AMZN_BUSINESS_MODEL_1 · filed 2026-02-06 | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. |
| Geographic and customer exposure | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. |
| Capital allocation | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. |
| Stated strategy in filings | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. |
| Idiosyncratic risks in filings | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | In its latest annual MD&A, AMZN describes this idiosyncratic risks in filings item. [FACT:Q_AMZN_IDIOSYNCRATIC_RISKS_1] The increase in 2025 was primarily related to the settlement of a lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”) in Q3 2025, and also included the resolution of tax disputes associated with our stores business in Italy, and physical stores and other asset impairments. company page · source filing · fact Q_AMZN_IDIOSYNCRATIC_RISKS_1 · filed 2026-02-06 | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. |
| Recent narrative change | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. | Quarantined: no direct dimension-relevant quote survived the gate. |
Gate summary
Quarantined quantitative rows
- No quantitative metric rows quarantined.
Quarantined dimensions
- geographic_customer_exposure: No verified cells survived the gate.
- capital_allocation: No verified cells survived the gate.
- stated_strategy: No verified cells survived the gate.
- recent_narrative_change: No verified cells survived the gate.
Quarantined cells
- AAPL / business_model: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- MSFT / business_model: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- META / business_model: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- AAPL / geographic_customer_exposure: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- MSFT / geographic_customer_exposure: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- GOOGL / geographic_customer_exposure: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- AMZN / geographic_customer_exposure: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- META / geographic_customer_exposure: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- AAPL / capital_allocation: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- MSFT / capital_allocation: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- GOOGL / capital_allocation: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- AMZN / capital_allocation: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- META / capital_allocation: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- AAPL / stated_strategy: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- MSFT / stated_strategy: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- GOOGL / stated_strategy: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- AMZN / stated_strategy: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- META / stated_strategy: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- AAPL / idiosyncratic_risks: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- MSFT / idiosyncratic_risks: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- GOOGL / idiosyncratic_risks: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- META / idiosyncratic_risks: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- AAPL / recent_narrative_change: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.
- MSFT / recent_narrative_change: No direct dimension-relevant quote survived the evidence gate.